Grommet with service port having two closed ends

ABSTRACT

A grommet includes a body having a first wall and a second wall. A passageway extends from the first wall to the second wall, and a service port extends from a first end adjacent to the first wall to a second end adjacent to the second wall. A first cap is integral with the first wall and covers the first end of the service port. Similarly, a second cap is integral with the second wall and covers the second end of the service port.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to grommets that are used in holesformed through panels in vehicles to facilitate the passages of wires orother articles therethrough. In particular, this invention relates to animproved structure for a grommet that is more effective and lessexpensive than known grommets.

Most vehicles are provided with one or more panels or similar barriersthat separate one portion of the vehicle from another. For example, afirewall is commonly provided in a vehicle to separate an enginecompartment thereof from a passenger cabin. In many instances (both whenthe vehicle is manufactured and when installing an aftermarket device),it may be necessary or desirable for one or more wires or other articlesto pass through these panels. To accommodate this, it is known toprovide one or more holes through the panel to allow the wire or otherarticle to pass therethrough.

However, the existence of such a hole can at least partially defeat themain purpose of the panel, which is to separate one portion of thevehicle from another. For example, a hole formed through a firewall canundesirably provide a pathway for water and other contaminants to passfrom the engine compartment of the vehicle into the passenger cabin.Also, the presence of such a hole can undesirably provide a conduitthrough which noise can pass from the engine compartment of the vehicleinto the passenger cabin. Lastly, the formation of such a hole cancreate a relatively sharp edge, which could cause damage to the wire orother article extending therethrough.

To address these problems, it is known to provide a grommet in the holeformed through the panel. Typically, the grommet includes a hollowcylindrical body that is formed from a plastic or elastomeric material.One or more flanges may be provided on the hollow cylindrical body toengage opposed sides of the panel to retain the grommet within the hole.The wire or other article extends through the hollow cylindrical body ofthe grommet The grommet minimizes the amount of open space extendingthrough the panel, thereby minimizing the size of the pathways forcontaminants and noise to pass from the engine compartment of thevehicle into the passenger cabin. Also, the grommet protectively coversany relatively sharp edges that might be present on one or both of theopposed sides of the panel, thereby protecting the wire or other articleextending therethrough.

As mentioned above, the need for a hole through a firewall of a vehiclemay arise not only when the vehicle is manufactured, but also later wheninstalling an aftermarket device on the vehicle. To facilitate theinstallation of an aftermarket device on the vehicle, it is known toprovide a grommet with two or more passageways, a first passageway thatis used when the vehicle is initially manufactured and a secondpassageway that may be used when an aftermarket device is subsequentlyinstalled on the vehicle. The provision of these two or more hollowpassageways eliminates the need to form a second, separate hole throughthe panel.

Although known grommets having multiple passageways have functionedsatisfactorily, it would be desirable to provide an improved structurefor a grommet that is more effective and less expensive than knowngrommets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an improved structure for a grommet that ismore effective and less expensive than known grommets. The grommetincludes a body having a first wall and a second wall. A passagewayextends from the first wall to the second wall, and a service portextends from a first end adjacent to the first wall to a second endadjacent to the second wall. A first cap is integral with the first walland covers the first end of the service port. Similarly, a second cap isintegral with the second wall and covers the second end of the serviceport.

Various aspects of this invention will become apparent to those skilledin the art from the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional elevational view of a prior art grommet

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a grommet inaccordance with this invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational view taken of the first embodiment ofthe grommet along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevational view similar to FIG. 3 showing thefirst embodiment of the grommet installed in a hole formed through apanel and having first and second wires extending therethrough.

FIG. 5 is a sectional elevational view of a second embodiment of agrommet in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional elevational view of a third embodiment of agrommet in accordance with this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a grommet,indicated generally at 10, that is conventional in the art. The priorart grommet 10 includes a first tubular port 12 that extends from a bodyportion 14. The prior art grommet 10 also has a second tubular port 16that extends from the body portion 14. The first tubular port 12 and thesecond tubular port 16 are arranged generally orthogonally, although itis known to orient them otherwise. The first tubular port 12 and thesecond tubular port 16 are adapted to accommodate a wiring harness (notshown) that extends therethrough. The second tubular port 16 has one ormore annular ridges 18 provided on an inside surface thereof to restrainmovement of the wire harness relative to the prior art grommet 10 and tobetter accommodate wiring harnesses of differing diameters than would asmooth inside surface. An annular groove 20 is provided in the peripheryof the prior art grommet 10 to engage opposed sides of a panel (notshown) to retain the prior art grommet 10 within a hole extendingthrough the panel.

The prior art grommet 10 has a service port 22 provided therein thatfacilitates the passages of additional wires (not shown) through theprior art grommet 10, such as when adding a new wire to replace anexisting broken wire in the wire harness or a service fix requiresrunning an additional wire. The service port 22 has a first end 24 thatis closed with a first cap 26. The first cap 26 is formed integrallywith the remainder of the prior art grommet 10. When the need for theservice port 22 arises, the first cap 26 is removed from the prior artgrommet 10 (such as by cutting) in order to provide access to theservice port 22.

The prior art grommet 10 is a double-walled grommet that includes afirst wall 28 and a second wall 30. The double-walled configurationserves to reduce the amount of noise that can pass through the grommetmore than a single-walled grommet would. The first and second walls 28and 30 of the prior art grommet 10 define an internal port space 32. Thefirst tubular port 12 and the second tubular port 16 both communicatewith the internal port space 32 and together define a passageway thatextends from the first wall 28 to the second wall 30, through which thewiring harness (not shown) can pass when it is installed. The serviceport 22 also extends from the first wall 28 to the second wall 30 of theprior art grommet 10. The service port 22 is separated from the internalport space 32 by a service port wall 34. The service port wall 34extends from the first wall 28 to the second wall 30 and serves toisolate the service port 22 from the internal port space 32.

Because the service port 22 is only blocked at the first end 24, itprovides a relatively small amount of insulation against the passage ofnoise through the prior art grommet 10. This can result in undesirableamounts of noise passing through the grommet To address this, the priorart grommet 10 also includes a service port plug 36 that is inserted ina second end 38 of the service port 22. The service port plug 36 can beinserted into the service port 22 of the prior art grommet 10 during theinitial installation of the prior art grommet 10 on the panel. If theneed subsequently arises, the service port plug 36 can be removed toprovide completely through access to the service port 22.

FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 illustrate a first embodiment of a grommet, indicatedgenerally at 110, in accordance with this invention. The grommet 110includes a first tubular port 112 and a second tubular port 116 that aregenerally coaxial, although such is not required. The grommet 110includes a body portion 114 from which the first tubular port 112 andthe second tubular port 116 extend. The first tubular port 112 and thesecond tubular port 116 can accommodate a wiring harness (not shown)extending therethrough in a known manner. The second tubular port 116has one or more annular ridges 118 formed on an inside surface thereofto restrain movement of the wire harness relative to the grommet 110 andto better accommodate wiring harnesses of differing diameters than woulda smooth inside surface. A groove 120 is provided in the periphery ofthe grommet 110 to engage opposed sides of a panel 46 (see FIG. 4) toretain the grommet 110 within a hole 44 extending through the panel 46.

The grommet 110 has a service port 122 that functions as a passagewaythrough the grommet 110 for wires and other articles that need to beadded after the assembly of the vehicle. The service port 122 includes afirst end 124 that is closed with a first cap 126. The first cap 126 isformed integrally with a first wall 128 of the grommet 110. In otherwords, the first cap 126 is formed from a single piece of material withthe first wall 128. However, it should be appreciated that the first cap126 may, if desired, be made of other materials than the first wall 128,may be created at a different time than the first wall 128, and may becreated by a process other than the process used to form the first wall128. When the need for the service port 122 arises, the first cap 126 isremoved from the grommet 110 (such as by cutting) in order to provideaccess to the service port 122.

The grommet 110 is illustrated as being a double-walled grommet thatincludes the first wall 128 and a second wall 130. The double-walledconfiguration serves to reduce the amount of noise that can pass throughthe grommet 110 more than a single-walled grommet would. The first andsecond walls 128 and 130 of the grommet 10 define an internal port space132. The first tubular port 112 and the second tubular port 116 bothcommunicate with the internal port space 132 and together define apassageway that extends from the first wall 128 to the second wall 130,through which the wiring harness (not shown) can pass when it isinstalled. The service port 122 also extends from the first wall 128 tothe second wall 130 of the grommet 110.

The service port 122 also includes a second end 138 that is closed witha second cap 140. The second cap 140 is formed integrally with thesecond wall 130 of the grommet 110. In other words, the second cap 140is formed from a single piece of material with the second wall 130.However, it should be appreciated that the second cap 140 may, ifdesired, be made of other materials than the second wall 130, may becreated at a different time than the second wall 130, and may be createdby a process other than the process used to form the second wall 130.When the need for the service port 122 arises, the second cap 140 isalso removed from the grommet 110 (such as by cutting) in order toprovide access to the service port 122. Prior to that, however, theservice port 122 is closed at both the first end 124 and the second end1238, as shown in FIG. 3.

The second cap 140 may be embodied as a locally-thin portion of thesecond wall 130. Such a structure can serve to help an installer of anaftermarket accessory precisely identify the location of the second cap140 so that the installer may cut the proper portion of the second wall130. This structure also serves to reduce the amount of material that iscut in order to use the service port 122. It should be appreciated thatthe second cap 140 may be embodied as other than the locally-thinportion of the second wall 130 if so desired. For example, the secondcap 140 may be embodied as a locally-thick area or may be identified bytexture, text, or other visual indicator. Also, the second end 138 ofthe service port 122 may include an extended tube structure (not shown)that is similar to an extended tube structure 142 provided on the firstend 124 of the service port 122.

The grommet 110 includes a service port wall 134 that defines a portionof the service port 122. The illustrated service port wall 134 does notextend from the first wall 128 to the second wall 130, although such iscontemplated by this invention. As a result, the illustrated serviceport 122 is not completely isolated from the internal port space 132.Consequently, the internal port space 132 includes a portion of theservice port 122. This design aides in the manufacture of the grommet110 because an internal tool or die may be used to define both theinternal port space 132 and the service port 122, thereby allowing thegrommet 110 to be molded as one piece in a single-shot process, unlikethe prior art grommet 10. It should be appreciated, however, that thegrommet 110 may be manufactured by processes other than single-shotmolding if desired, and that the grommet 110 may be manufactured withthe service port wall 134 extending completely from the first wall 128to the second wall 130.

FIG. 4 shows the grommet 110 in an installed position within the hole 44that extends through the panel 46. The grommet 110 is inserted so thatan edge 48 of the hole 44 engages the groove 120. A wiring harness 50 isinserted through the first tubular port 112, the internal port space132, and the second tubular port 116. If desired, the wiring harness 50may have one or more layers of conventional tape 52 wound thereabout.The tape 52 assist in providing a seal between the wiring harness 50 andeach of the first tubular port 112 and the second tubular port 116. Thetape 52 also serves to restrict movement of the wiring harness 50relative to the grommet 110.

When it is desired to pass an additional wire 54 or other articlethrough the hole 44 formed through panel 46, the service port 122 of thegrommet 110 can be employed. To accomplish this, the first cap 126 andthe second cap 140 are cut or otherwise removed from the grommet 110 toprovide access through the hole 44. If desired, the first cap 126 may beremoved in its entirety from the grommet 110. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 4, a portion of the first cap 126 may be slit and deflected to openthe first end 124 of the service port 122. In either event, the secondwire 54 can then be passed through the service port 122, as also shownin FIG. 4. A sealant, such as room temperature vulcanization silicone56, may be used to completely re-seal the service port 122. Additionaltape 58 may be also used to attach the second wire 54 to the extendedtube structure 142 at the first end 124 of the service port 122. Thesecond wire 54 may also be attached to the wiring harness 50 using oneor more conventional zip-ties (not shown) in order to further restrictmovement of the second wire 54 relative to the grommet 110.

FIGS. 5 and 6 respectively illustrate second and third embodiments ofthe grommet 210 and 310, respectively, of this invention. The second andthird embodiments of the grommets 210 and 310 are similar to the grommet110 in structure and operation, and like reference numbers are used toindicate similar structures. The second and third embodiments of thegrommets 210 and 310 differ from the first embodiment of the grommet 110in the relative orientation of their respective first tubular ports 212and 312 and second tubular ports 216 and 316.

The principle and mode of operation of this invention have beenexplained and illustrated in its preferred embodiments. However, it mustbe understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than asspecifically explained and illustrated without departing from its spiritor scope.

1. A grommet for mounting in a hole, the grommet comprising: a bodyhaving a first wall and a second wall; a wire passage extending throughthe first wall and the second wall; a service port extending through thefirst wall and the second wall a first cap integral with the first walland covering a first end of the service port; and a second cap integralwith the second wall covering a second end of the service port.
 2. Thegrommet of claim 1 wherein a portion of the service port is defined by aservice port wall, and the service port wall does not extend from thefirst wall to the second wall.
 3. The grommet of claim 1 wherein a portspace is defined between the first wall and the second wall, and theport space includes a portion of the wire passage and a portion of theservice port.
 4. The grommet of claim 3 wherein the grommet is onepiece.
 5. The grommet of claim 1 wherein the grommet is one piece. 6.The grommet of claim 5 wherein the grommet is molded.
 7. The grommet ofclaim 1 wherein the first cap comprises a locally-thin portion of thefirst wall.
 8. A grommet comprising: a body portion including a firstwall, a second wall, and a periphery that define an internal space; afirst passageway extending through the internal space of the bodyportion from the first wall to the second wall; and a second passagewayextending through the internal space of the body portion from the firstwall to the second wall, wherein a first cap is formed integrally withthe first wall and covers a first end of the second passageway, andwherein a second cap is formed integrally with the second wall andcovers a second end of the second passageway